9. Little Sparrow by Dolly Parton

By TIME StaffFriday, Dec. 21, 2001

Although lumped with the bluegrass revival, Parton's album sports little of the preciousness associated with most nouveau blue. On traditional tunes and unconventional ones (Collective Soul's Shine, Cole Porter's I Get a Kick Out of You), Parton tests bluegrass's elasticity  but gently. The whole album sounds fresh and playful.